The Glacier Society - Uniting Polar Interest Around The Globe

YOUTH PROGRAM NEWS

AHOY, YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS!

If your youth organization is in the north east and you would like to use the Arctic Scout this year, contact the Glacier Society office for more information.

CERTIFIED CAPTAINS NEEDED

Volunteer certified captains are needed to pilot the Arctic Scout, our 39’ arctic survey boat for the upcoming Summer/Fall seasons.
Contact the Glacier Society office, 203-380-3474, glockett@glaciersociety.org or by fax at 203-380-3539.

Click here for photos of the Arctic Scout.

Thanks to the generous donations of gifts in kind from sponsors such as MTU Detroit Diesel Corp., Dometic Corp., Furuno and Sherwin Williams, just to name a few, the Explorer, a 67’ cruiser, is being completely refurbished and will be made available to support the Glacier Society’s Youth Program. Much back-breaking labor is being supplied by the area Sea Cadets to complete this project. More photos.

The Arctic Gayle, the smallest boat in the Glacier Society’s ‘fleet’ is pictured here during her participation in the recent Florida Winterfest
Boat Parade. More photos.

The Arctic Gayle is currently berthed in Fort Lauderdale and is used by area Sea Cadets for training exercises.

The Youth Training Program is taking hold both in Connecticut and in Florida. I hope you enjoy the photos recently posted on the Arctic Scout section of this website. We owe special thanks to the Navy League, Boy Scouts, the Town of Westport, CT, and the Saugatuck Harbor and Cedar Point Yacht Clubs. We are shut down for the winter in Connecticut but underway in Fort Lauderdale.

Lack of a berth and dry dock has blocked us for years. Gary Whitney is leading Allied Defense Recycling, LLC in the effort to activate Mare Island Dry Dock. We have an agreement with Gary's team to tow Glacier to his facility and begin work as soon as he is ready.

Our California Team is ready; Jim Echoff, John Ward and dozens of others will move the ship and begin the work.

Demand for Icebreakers is HOT! USCG, Homeland Defense, DoD and the Navy are all discussing the need. Glacier can and will fill part of those requirements. The Heritage Foundation has published a White Paper concerning the environment, the Arctic and icebreaker requirements. The fastest and cheapest solution is to return Glacier as a privately operated asset for the benefit of the Nation. Please read this link and contact Senator Joseph Lieberman urging support for the Glacier.

DoD is examining two alternative plans for use of Glacier: one for use in the Arctic and the other for use as a Homeland Defense and Humanitarian asset base in Fort Lauderdale for deployment in the Caribbean and Southern Atlantic waters.

Thank you all for your support. Recent gifts in kind from the marine industry hit records this fall. However, Cold CASH contributions to back up the gifts in kind of equipment are required to complete our work and pay off existing debt. Please make an on-line gift now and reach out to add as many new friends as you can to our list.

Thanks to the support of Glacier Society's members and friends, the Arctic Scout welcomes our youth for the 2008 season! The balance due to the marina is $55,000. (This amount does not include costs of operation for this season.)

We have arranged for temporary financing but must pay off the debt. Contributions for the pay down of this debt are needed and can be made by credit card by clicking here, or by mailing your check to the Glacier Society office [Glacier Society, 905 Honeyspot Road, Stratford, CT 06615]. You may also call the office [(866) ICE PLAY (423-7529) TOLL FREE or (203) 375-6638] with your credit card information.